Navigate Economic Headwinds by Evolving Your DEI Business & Practice (ft. Amber Vilhauer, NGNG Founder)
Release Date: 05/16/2025
Beyond Frameworks: Real Leaders on Embodying the Ultimate Power Skill
Imagine Belonging at Work
Most leaders don’t need another strategy, another 10-step checklist, or another theoretical framework to study. What they need is the ability to embody what they have already learned about leadership to have more agency to respond to challenges when the stakes are high. In this episode, we move beyond the classroom and into the "laboratory of the self." You’ll hear directly from leaders who have participated in the Roads Less Traveled (RLT) group coaching program —executives and entrepreneurs who realized that "Power Skills" like empathy, intercultural communications, presence, and...
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Finding Your Ground: A 7-Minute Somatic Centering Practice
Imagine Belonging at Work
Many leaders today are experiencing "Quiet Cracking," a state of Burnout 2.0 where we are expected to remain high-functioning while navigating empathy fatigue and physical exhaustion. The expectation is to "power through," but this move erodes our creative vision and ability to connect with others. If you feel this internal crumbling, know that you aren't failing; you are simply reacting to a culture where logic alone cannot solve our most polarizing global challenges. To help you find your way back, I am sharing a 7-minute somatic centering practice. Why We Center Centering is a practice...
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A Somatic Gratitude Practice for Leaders
Imagine Belonging at Work
In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry invites listeners to shift their relationship with gratitude—from a passive reaction when things go well to an intentional practice of resilience. Drawing on the rich sensory experiences of a recent pilgrimage to India, Rhodes guides listeners through a deep, 20-minute somatic meditation designed to metabolize safety and build the resilience required to lead through collapse and chaos. Rather than bypassing the difficulties of leadership or "white-knuckling" through stress, Rhodes challenges leaders to ground themselves in the...
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Between the Monkey Bars: How to Let Go of 2025 (+ Visioning Practice)
Imagine Belonging at Work
In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry invites listeners into the "liminal space"—that unique, quiet week between the holidays and the New Year. Using the metaphor of the "monkey bars," Rhodes explores the terrifying but necessary moment of suspension where we must let go of the past (2025) before we can firmly grasp the future (2026). Rather than rushing to fill this silence with strategic plans and checklists, Rhodes challenges leaders to stop "white-knuckling" clinging to the old tools of leadership and instead learn how to swing with the chaos. This episode...
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🎉 Celebrate 7 Year Book-A-Versary of 'Belonging at Work’ on World Kindness Day
Imagine Belonging at Work
In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry reflects on the creation and impact of his first book, 'Belonging at Work,' published on World Kindness Day in 2018. He discusses the evolution of workplace belonging and previews his upcoming book, 'Roads Less Traveled,' a memoir and methodology guide for real transformation. Rhodes shares his writing process through automatic writing, celebrates the milestone of 10 years growing the belonging movement, and offers various opportunities for listeners to celebrate and engage with his work, including special promotions for his...
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DEI Now: Leading with Integrity and Inclusion with McKensie Mack and Ellen Pao
Imagine Belonging at Work
Are you a CEO struggling to protect your brand's values in today's political climate? In this essential episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, host Rhodes Perry interviews MMG Earth CEO, Mckenzie Mack, and former Reddit CEO, Ellen Pao, about their groundbreaking report, “DEI Now: Leading with Integrity and Inclusion.” Discover why setting clear "red lines,” or boundaries rooted in your values, is a strategic necessity, not just an ethical choice. Learn how to avoid the "wrong side of history" by applying lessons from the past, and learn how to apply them to mitigate risk while...
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Are You Using the Right Language to Talk About DEI?
Imagine Belonging at Work
Are you struggling with how to talk about your organization's DEI commitments in today’s volatile climate? In this episode of the "Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality" mini-series, host Rhodes Perry offers message-tested communication strategies to fortify the heart of your work. Discover how to take a "Goldilocks approach," balancing what you say to different audiences to avoid legal risks while protecting your brand's reputation. Learn why the full phrase "diversity, equity, and inclusion" is more powerful than the acronym "DEI" and how to frame your initiatives...
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How Are You Addressing Collective Trauma in Your Workforce?
Imagine Belonging at Work
In this episode of the Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality mini-series, we're talking about something every leader needs to be aware of: the profound impact of collective trauma and grief on your workforce. Host Rhodes Perry shares how the current climate amplifies fear and anxiety, disrupting the very fabric of trust and psychological safety in the workplace. This episode provides actionable, trauma-informed strategies to support your employees. You'll learn how to: Provide psychological safety first aid. Acknowledge and validate employees' grief. Model collective...
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What to do When Your Profession is Under Attack?
Imagine Belonging at Work
In a climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals are facing unprecedented challenges, how can leaders continue to build spaces of belonging? This exclusive mini-series, Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s New Reality, inspired by a toolkit originally for Fortune 100 leaders, is your roadmap! Host and creator of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry, a nationally recognized belonging culture thought leader, offers the essential guidance you need to navigate the shifting landscape of legal challenges, evolving rhetoric, and evolving workforce strategies....
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Is Your Belonging Strategy a Legal Liability or Asset?
Imagine Belonging at Work
Are you confident your organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are legally sound? In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast mini-series, "Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality," we explore the shifting legal landscape and what it means for your workplace. Host Rhodes Perry provides a clear-eyed analysis of the legal attacks on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, including recent court rulings, executive actions, and congressional proposals. This episode gives you the essential legal context to fortify your diversity, equity, and...
info_outlineAre you a diversity, equity, and inclusion small business owner feeling the pressure of economic uncertainty and unfounded assaults to your vital work? If you answered yes, then this is an Imagine Belonging Podcast episode you cannot afford to miss!
Over the past 60 years, diversity professionals world-wide have emerged as some of the best business leaders due to the complexity of our work and the industries we continue to influence. Given this high standard of excellence, I am thrilled to introduce you to Amber Vilhauer, CEO of NGNG Enterprises (No Guts No Glory), an Inc. 5000 top marketing agency in the U.S.
Amber’s has supported thousands of entrepreneurs on six continents and specializes in business growth consulting that will help your company experience infinite impact by leading with your values. Amber is a multi-award winner for Female Entrepreneur of the Year and other Women in Business professional awards, which are a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence and achieving noteworthy results.
Join us as we explore concrete strategies to not just weather the storm, but to rise above it and build a thriving, impactful business.
We dive into:
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Leveraging "Infinite Impact" for Resilience: Discover how the principles of Amber’s newest book, Infinite Impact, can empower DEI business owners to navigate economic headwinds and counter attacks on the industry. Learn to amplify your value and demonstrate your indispensable role.
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Authentic Leadership in Risky Times: Explore proven strategies for becoming an authentically self-expressed business leader, even when advocating for your cause feels risky. Learn to lead with conviction and integrity in this evolving landscape.
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Finding Opportunity in Collective Grief: Uncover how to identify opportunities and offer meaningful support during times of collective grief and loss, recognizing the critical role DEI plays in fostering healing and understanding.
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Reintroducing & Rebuilding: For DEI professionals, we discuss how to strategically reintroduce your expertise and build new narratives that highlight the enduring importance of safety, trust, and belonging in the workplace.
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Your Vision for the Future of Work: Gain insights into the future of work and the pivotal role diversity, equity, and inclusion plays in shaping a more just and prosperous future for all.
Ready to build a resilient and impactful small business that not only survives but thrives?
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